AI-Based Policymaking in Southeast Asia with an Emphasis on Singapore

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Master of International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Imam Khomeini International, Qazvin, Iran

10.22059/jppolicy.2026.106376

Abstract

This article aims to examine the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in policymaking in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Singapore. As AI gains increasing importance in global policymaking, Southeast Asian countries have taken significant steps toward adopting and utilizing this technology extensively, to the extent that the expansion of AI has had a notable impact on the economies and societies of ASEAN member states. Among the countries in this region, Singapore stands out as the most advanced in leveraging the capabilities of AI. Therefore, the main question of this article is: What is the position of AI in Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore? This article hypothesizes that the ASEAN region is among the first in the world to integrate AI into all aspects of societal life, and AI holds a very prominent position in the countries of this region, especially Singapore.

Keywords

References

  1. Allen, J. G., Loo, J., & Campoverde, J. L. L. (2025). Governing intelligence: Singapore’s evolving AI governance framework. Cambridge Forum on AI: Law and Governance, 1, e12. doi:10.1017/cfl.2024.12.
  2. AI Singapore. (2022). AI Singapore offers training programs, workshops, and certifications to upskill AI professionals. Retrieved fromhttps://www.aisingapore.org/education/
  3. Aljumaili, O. (2021). The automation of critical path method using machine learning: A conceptual study. International Journal of Engineering and Management Research, 11.https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-ai
  4. Audibert, R. B., Lemos, H., Avelar, P., Tavares, A. R., & Lamb, L. C. (2022). On the evolution of AI and machine learning: Towards measuring and understanding impact, influence, and leadership at premier AI conferences. arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.13131.
  5. Bagheri Dolatabadi, A. (2024). The impact of Artificial Intelligence on Mainstream Theories of International Relations. Journal of Political Strategy, 8(1), 7-27.[in Persian].
  6. Bonsay, J. O., Cruz, A. P., Firozi, H. C., & Camaro, P. J. C. (2021). Artificial intelligence and labor productivity paradox: The economic impact of AI in China, India, Japan, and Singapore. Journal of Economics, Finance and Accounting Studies, 3(2), 120-139.
  7. Cheng Se, L. (2021). "Pioneering AI Development in Singapore," Journal of Asian Technologies, 12(4) , 55-62.
  8. Chong, Y. W., Villanueva-Libunao, K., Chee, S. Y., Alvarez, M. J., Yau, K. L. A., & Keoh, S. L. (2022). Artificial intelligence policies to enhance urban mobility in Southeast Asia. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 4, 824391.
  9. Choudhary, A., & Jordan, J. (2019). Artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia: opportunities and challenges. Southeast Asian Affairs, 2019(1), 279-292.
  10. DBS Bank. (2021). DBS Bank launches AI-powered virtual assistant "RAI" to enhance customer service. Retrieved from https://www.dbs.com/newsroom/DBS_Bank_launches_AI_powered_virtual_assistant_RAI_to_enhance_customer_service
  11. Dharmaraj, S. (2024) . Vietnam’s Comprehensive Strategy for AI Advancement. Available at: https://opengovasia.com/2024/04/13/vietnams-comprehensive-strategy-for-ai-advancement/. Accessed on: April 13, 2024.
  12. European Union (2016), "General Data Protection Regulation," Official Journal of the European Union, vol. L119, pp. 1-88, 2016.
  13. Farahani, S. N. (2021). "Smart Energy Management Systems: The Role of AI in Iran," International Journal of Energy Research, 45( 1), 123-135.
  14. Gharavi, M. J. (2022)."The Role of AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges in Iran," Health Informatics Research, 28( 3), 154-162.
  15. Goode, K., Kim, H. M., & Deng, M. (2023). Examining Singapore’s AI progress. Center for Security and Emerging Technology, 19.
  16. Government of Singapore, "National AI Strategy," 2017.
  17. Hoang, T. T. (2024). Building AI talent pipelines in Vietnam: Challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 5(3), 210-225.
  18. Hull, R. (2017). Machine learning in finance: Theory and applications. Routledge.
  19. https://ai.gov.my/about-naio
  20. Hwang, J. Z. and J. J. Park, (2021) "AI Applications in Healthcare: Benefits and Challenges," Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research, 5( 1), 1-17.
  21. Isono, I., & Prilliadi, H. (2023). Accelerating Artificial Intelligence Discussions in ASEAN: Addressing Disparities, Challenges, and Regional Policy Imperatives. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
  22. Kelly, J. (2020). Artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia. ASEAN Briefing. Retrieved from https://www.asean-briefing.com/news/artificial-intelligence-in-southeast-asia/
  23. Lim, S. S., & Chng, G. (2024). Verifying AI: will Singapore’s experiment with AI governance set the benchmark? Communication Research and Practice, 10(3), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2024.2346416
  24. MacLennan, B. (2009). History of Artificial Intelligence Before Computers. In Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Second Edition (pp. 1763-1768). IGI Global.
  25. Malaysia National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025(2021). Available at: https://dig.watch/resource/malaysia-national-artificial-intelligence-roadmap-2021-2025. Accessed on: 3 May 2025.
  26. Mckinsey, (2023),” what is Al?” website of mickinsey. April 24
  27. Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore. (2023). National AI Office launches AI Innovation Fund to support AI projects in Singapore. Retrieved from https://www.mci.gov.sg/pressroom/news-and-stories/news/national-ai-office-launches-ai-innovation-fund
  28. Nguyen, N. D., Le, H. T. T., Truong, B. T., Ha, D. V., Nguyen, N. V. T., & Tran, T. (2024). A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualisation of Digital Teaching and Learning Publications From Southeast Asia Countries. European Journal of Education, e12781.
  29. Movahedian, E. (2019). Artificial Intelligence: A Technological Threat to International Peace and Security, Iranian Diplomacy Site,Available at: http://irdiplomacy.ir/fa/news/1985459/. Accessed on: 3 April 2025.
  30. Remolina, N., & Seah, J. (2019). How to Address the AI Governance Discussion? What Can We Learn From Singapore's AI Strategy?. What Can We Learn From Singapore's AI Strategy.
  31. (2020). SGInnovate provides funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for AI startups. Retrieved from https://www.sginnovate.com/accelerate.
  32. Sharifzadeh, Z. , Mirkooshesh, A. H. and Hosseini, M. M. (2023). Investigating the position of artificial intelligence and its application strategies in the United States of America. Journal of Political Strategy, 7(4), 57-87. [in Persian].
  33. Shi, M., & Zhao, Z. (2018, March). The impact of intelligent medicine on health care against the backdrop of big data. In 2018 Joint International Advanced Engineering and Technology Research Conference (JIAET 2018) (pp. 471-477). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/jiaet-18.2018.84.
  34. Smith, A. H. (2020) "Collaborating for Ethical AI: Opportunities and Implications," AI & Society, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 279-293
  35. Taeihagh, A. (2021). Governance of artificial intelligence. Policy and Society, 40(2), 137-157.
  36. Tan, Jun-E. 2021. “Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Southeast Asia.”
  37. Tan, J. E. (2024). Introducing the AI Risk Series. Kuala Lumpur: Khazanah Research Institute. https://www. krinstitute. org/Views-@-Introducing_the_AI_Risk_Series. aspx.
  38. Tan, L. K. (2024). Regulatory frameworks for AI governance in Southeast Asia: A comparative study. Asian Journal of Law and Society, 8(1), 45-60
  39. Tan Tock Seng Hospital. (2024). Tan Tock Seng Hospital implements AI-powered chatbots for patient support. Retrieved from https://www.ttsh.com.sg/newsroom/press-releases/tan-tock-seng-hospital-implements-ai-powered-chatbots-for-patient-support/
  40. Targowski, A. (Ed.). (2021). The Strategies of Informing Technology in the 21st Century. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-8036-3.ch010.
  41. Timnit Gebru and Kate Crawford, "AI and the Need for Diversity in Tech," Journal of AI Ethics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 15-24, 2021.
  42. Tiuria, Y., Pochtovyi, M., Medytskyi, I., Mykytyn, Y., & Kryvenko, O. (2022). Features of legal support of artificial intelligence in the Asia and Pacific region. Amazonia Investiga, 11(60), 129-134.
  43. Topol, E. J. (2019). Deep medicine: How artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again. Basic Books.
  44. Varian, H. R. (2014). Big data: New tricks for econometrics. Journal of economic perspectives, 28(2), 3-28.
  45. McKinsey, G. H. "AI in Healthcare: Game Changer or Disappointment?" International Journal of Health Policy Management, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 75-80, 2021.
Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 140-153

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics